The episode titled “The Death of Vibe” partially centered around the villainous Cicada’s attempt to draw out Cisco Ramon’s superhero alter-ego by torturing Joe West, hoping he could persuade the Central City police detective to summon Vibe. While Joe resisted for as long as he could, Vibe and The Flash eventually arrived on the scene, resulting in Cicada abducting his target. However, Barry was able to track down Cicada and Vibe in the woods, resulting in a violent showdown between the Scarlet Speedster and the masked villain. During the confrontation, Cicada revealed his true intentions with what he believed would be his final line to The Flash: “All these years that Central City spent defending metas instead of ending them. Those days end now, starting with you.”

Fortunately, Nora intervened and thwarted Cicada, forcing the villain to flee as our heroes discovered that Cisco was still alive. However, when Iris reunited with Joe, he noted that Cicada unknowingly dropped subtle hints that led him to deduce that the villain is a father. Joe’s suspicions are confirmed when Cicada – out of his costume – is shown at a hospital watching over a young girl who appears to be in a coma, though the reasons behind her condition are unknown. The attending nurse refers to Cicada as “Orlun” and informs him that the girl shows no signs of improvement before checking a glowing open wound on the villain’s shoulder. Cicada then kisses the girl on the forehead and states that his mission is not complete after the nurse advises him to stop, suggesting that he sustained his would some time ago.

The episode also confirmed that this incarnation of Cicada is not the alter-ego of David Hersch, the villain’s true identity in the comics. However, Harrison “Sherloque” Wells notes that David Hersch is Cicada on 37 of the alternate Earths in the multiverse and Nora explained that the villain was not supposed to arrive at this point in the timeline.